Sharks know loss to Capitals could undo that win over Ducks — plus Ovechkin’s favorite player as kid and a Torres update

SAN JOSE – A lot of this and that from the morning skate. And we’ll get to the Raffi Torres conversation later.

Todd McLellan talked yesterday about the need to avoid an emotional letdown after San Jose’s 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks, and players indicated Saturday they know the importance of the two points at stake tonight against the Washington Capitals.

“If you lose tonight Thursday’s game means nothing,” Joe Thornton said. “We realize how big these points are, and we realize how big a game tonight is for those guys over there.”

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Those “guys over there” are in a more desperate playoff fight in the Eastern Conference. And that’s one reason, according to Alexander Ovechkin, that Washington has taken three out of four points in its first two stops on their California tour.

You can read what he had to say about it in the online story I filed earlier and available here that also looks at the fact this will be the Sharks tenth consecutive playoff appearance – a streak second only to the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL.

Ovechkin, by the way, also talked a little about how former Sharks captain Owen Nolan was his favorite NHL player while growing up in Russia.

“Just the physical game and scoring goals,” Ovechkin said. “It was so hard for us back then to look at the games live, but when I had the opportunity, I looked at him.”

What else?

****The Capitals have not won in San Jose since the first game they played here on Oct. 30, 1993. That’s more than two decades ago. Not a lot of games since then, but the Sharks are 11-0-0 with one tie since then.

The Sharks, understandably, played down that.

“Mainly just history,” Patrick Marleau said. “We don’t see each other a lot. Obviously there’s things they have on their team, star players and they’re one of the top teams out in the East for a lot of years now. It’s one of those things where you get up for their games.”

****Antti Niemi getting the start in net for the Sharks against Jaroslav Halak for the Capitals. Since coming to Washington from St. Louis at the trade deadline, Halak is 4-2-1, with a .935 save percentage and 2.13 goals against average.

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Raffi Torres and Brad Stuart will each sit this one out. No word on the fourth line right wing position that’s been rotated lately, but my educated guess is Mike Brown plays and Tyler Kennedy sits.

****Now, back to Torres. Still no specific timeline for his return, but it seems pretty clear that the general soreness that has been keeping him out of the lineup for what will be a seventh game is concentrated on his surgically repaired right knee.

“Taking the time to get ready for when it counts,” Torres said of his present situation.

Does he hope to get into at least a few games before the playoffs?

“Yeah, I think that would make sense to get a couple games in,” he said. “The games I did play, the scoresheet might have looked good and the way I felt, I felt good. But I knew I had to back off a little bit here. That pace out there, bumping and grinding, if you’re not in there, you don’t know.”

Is he second-guessing the decision to play immediately after the Olympic break?

“No, you can’t really say that because I felt great,” said Torres, who lasted five games. “I was telling them that I was ready to play three or four games before the break. It was smart not to, but the break was nice. I came back and I felt great. There was no reason I couldn’t go out there and play.

“I could still go out and play now,” he continued. “Could I be effective the way they want me to? Probably not. But it’s getting better every day.”

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

Well, I think that Demers has better puck handling skills over the other two. He generally looks smoother. I think that is a key. But, I think they make better decisions overall than Demers and don’t take the same risks IMO.

One way to look at it, who has the puck after they these players are done with it? This is not the norm, so when problems happen, after Jason is done with the puck, I see the other team with it more. That is not to say it happens all the time. It doesn’t.

I think all 3 are playing well enough. Demers takes more risks with the puck and without. That is another key. Part of that makes sense because he is naturally more confident handling the puck. He also can be a faster skater too. He’ll naturally take more risks.

Angel From Texas

Is it just me or did couture seem out of sync yesterday?

Hockeynut

Sheppard is nothing special there are 100 other guys who are as good or better. He is making over 19800k this year he’ll be looking for over a million. For 16pts and a plus three? Wilson would be a fool to shell out that kind of money. I just don’t get the hype.

GP_hockeyhappens

Are you making the assumption that Sharks and Ducks will win all of the remaining games? 2G in hand then the 10 others?

Seems you’re forgetting one of those games is Sharks vs Ducks. One team will get 2 points. The loser may get 1 point. Kinda changes your formula a little doesn’t. (hint: there is no formula).

Hockeynut

If you were to believe the drewball the Sharks never commit penalties it’s always a bad call or the other guy “dressed it up” I guess when Vlasic threw his head back like he’d been punched in the face when the stick glanced his chin strap that wasn’t dressing it up?

GP_hockeyhappens

Angel, I thought Couture didn’t have a good game at all.

GP_hockeyhappens

You’re such a tool.

I suggest you take a ruler over to your neighbors house, tell him to whack you on the chin as hard as he could with the flat side.

Let’s see if you don’t snap your head back?

Then for good measure, go to the nearest hockey rink, when players leave the ice, ask one to hit you in the chin with a swing of the stick — flat side of course. See what happens.

Maybe you could also show up at Sharks practice and ask one of the pro hockey players to do the same thing at half speed. Let’s see if you dress it up.

Yes, we’ll know that answer to that question.

GP_hockeyhappens

I am not surprised at your “opinion” here.

GP_hockeyhappens

Didn’t. Do tell!

Angel From Texas

Taylor hall smashed a water bottle out of frustration, some of the water splashed on Eakins. Eakins wasn’t happy about it, he had a few choice words with hall and then wiped himself off with a towel, then threw the towel at hall. Kinda unprofessional by Eakins. He also benched hall for a couple of shifts after that.

Then again, Wilson did shell out millions for that worthless pylon Burrish so I guess anything is possible.

Hockeynut

It wasn’t even a hard hit, it barely grazed him. Why do you think Vlasic was smiling afterwards? He knew he sold that big time. No NHL player is above embellishment when the game is on the line. If you knew anything about sports you’d know that.

GP_hockeyhappens

The towel wasn’t an issue to me. It was Eakins removing his jacket. Kinda hard to see, but didn’t look like much water. I think he was showing up his player with that move I can’t believe the jack was that wet.

GP_hockeyhappens

Exactly my point. You’re a tool.

A complete tool.

Get yourself hit in the face with a moving hockey stick first. Then come back and tell us if it hurt or not.

And Mr. Toolman, Vlassic was amused that Ovi was complaining to the ref about the call. He didn’t have to sell anything.

sharks1989

you guys get way to upset over this guy. I enjoy him because I picture him as a semi fat ginger kid who sits in front of his TV throwing his remote around and shaking his head.

Topcatone

Sheppard really brings it. No way he is not resigned. Has great potential. Still improving.

GP_hockeyhappens

I think there is the back story too. DW got him in the trade intentional or not. He became a “project” so to speak. He rehabbed, then TMac had figure out how to “(re)train” the guy. The guy missed a lot of hockey and let’s face it, he was young enough in the Wild org when they dropped him from their plans, to have his confidence crushed. When he was ready to play in the NHL, TMac then needed to figure out where the guy would fit in. They worked together to find that out.

We’re seeing the results and the Sharks are benefiting. I don’t think JS is going anywhere and Shepp will want to stay with the org that seems to have believed in him and stuck with him. I don’t know what the cost will be, but I don’t think it breaks the bank.

GP_hockeyhappens

Buddy, I think you have a point. I don’t think Eakins handled it correctly. On that team, in their 50 year 10 year or more rebuild, you need the guys to respect you. I don’t think think that did it out in public like that.

That said, we don’t know what Eakins or Hall actually said.

MLBSF

I couldn’t agree more Hockeynut

renoshark

Why? Because this is the first time since Sheppard has been a Shark that he’s found his game and a role on the team that fits him. Because of that, he’s been having an impact as a quality 3rd liner. Contrary to what you might think, quality depth players are a good thing.

Bustherrr

SJ got Sheppard in a straight up trade for a 3rd rd pick. Seems pretty intentional for a former 1st rd (9) pick that really needed a change of scenery after missing a year + to injury.
Min rushed him at 18 straight to NHL with no time in AHL, and so overmatched his confidence and game regressed under the expectations and pressure.
Even Couture spent time in the AHL, then his first couple of years was kept in more sheltered situations.

renoshark

Good point but you actually watch hockey, and how players are performing, rather than key in on a box score or just spew mind-numbing gibberish like Nutter Butter.

renoshark

If only we could be a trainwreck like Edmonton for the better part of a decade, all would be peachy.

Buddy Elf

You were able to see my post? It said it was moderated because of a certain word, and I don’t see my post.

Anyhow, yah, I don’t understand why people want the Sharks to be like the Oilers.

GP_hockeyhappens

Maybe because it was a direct response to my post? I can’t see it any longer though. I am thinking a combo of certain words were a problem.

You know I am with you on the the plan. Missing POs 10 yrs to get high picks for still a 1 in 30 chance of winning SC — insanity.

Hockeynut

How many in regulation or OT? (not shootouts?) Speaking of that how many ROW do the Sharks have against the Hawks, Duck, Pens, Bruins, and Kings?